Sophronitis
Encyclopedia
Sophronitis, abbreviated Soph in horticultural trade, is a genus of small, epiphytic
or lithophytic
orchids, growing in the damp montane forest of eastern Brazil
, Paraguay
and NE Argentina
. Currently, 65 species are recognized.
Sophronitis species are widely known for their red flowers, particularly Sophronitis coccinea. Between the time that the Brazilian Laelia
s were moved to Sophronitis and the reduction of Sophronitis to synonymy under Cattleya
, the genus was also known for large flowered species such as Sophronitis purpurata.
In January 2008, the International Orchid Committee voted to reduce Sophronitis to synonymy under Cattleya
. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has already moved a hybrid of the rupicolous Laelia
that had been renamed Sophronitis esalqueana into the genus Cattleya
.
, in which grows a single, or rarely two, apical, erect, fleshy, gray-green leaves
.
The leaf gives rise to a terminal inflorescence
with one to eight flower
s. Sometimes this inflorescence is subtended by a spathaceous bract, sometimes erroneously called spathe (spathe is a typical form in some other families such as Araceae
and Arecaceae
). The flowers have similarly shaped sepal
s and petal
s, and can be yellow, pink, lavender, magenta, orange and red.
The trilobed lip
has lateral lobes that partially encircle the column
. The smaller midlobe has a yellow disc and the spur is adnate to the ovary
. The lip often presents some lamellate calli.
Some species are yellow, and almost all species have some shades of orange due to natural variation within the species.
They are used extensively in hybridization to influence the small size and the dark red color of the progeny, such as in the hybrid x Sophrolaeliocattleya (xSlc.) Sophronitis species are quite small, a characteristic that may be conferred to progeny such that they are more compact.
This new classification was created by Van den Berg and M.W. Chase in 2000. In addition to the traditional small, red species, it included all Laelia species from Brazil, based on DNA evidence. The Mexican species still are Laelia.
, Microlaelia Chiron & V.P.Castro, Sophronia Lindl.
are synonyms of Sophronitis.
To "reduce confusion" Sophronitis has been reduced to Synonymy
under Cattleya
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
or lithophytic
Lithophyte
Lithophytes are a type of plant that grows in or on rocks. Lithophytes feed off moss, nutrients in rain water, litter, and even their own dead tissue....
orchids, growing in the damp montane forest of eastern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
and NE Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Currently, 65 species are recognized.
Sophronitis species are widely known for their red flowers, particularly Sophronitis coccinea. Between the time that the Brazilian Laelia
Laelia
Laelia, abbreviated L. in the horticultural trade, is a small genus of 25 species from the orchid family . This is one of the most important and popular orchid genera, because of the beautiful flowers, their genetic properties and because they are fairly easy in culture. It is probably named after...
s were moved to Sophronitis and the reduction of Sophronitis to synonymy under Cattleya
Cattleya
Cattleya is a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after Sir William Cattley who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids...
, the genus was also known for large flowered species such as Sophronitis purpurata.
In January 2008, the International Orchid Committee voted to reduce Sophronitis to synonymy under Cattleya
Cattleya
Cattleya is a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after Sir William Cattley who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids...
. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has already moved a hybrid of the rupicolous Laelia
Laelia
Laelia, abbreviated L. in the horticultural trade, is a small genus of 25 species from the orchid family . This is one of the most important and popular orchid genera, because of the beautiful flowers, their genetic properties and because they are fairly easy in culture. It is probably named after...
that had been renamed Sophronitis esalqueana into the genus Cattleya
Cattleya
Cattleya is a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after Sir William Cattley who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids...
.
Description
They have short, ovoid, often densely clustered pseudobulbs along the rhizomeRhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
, in which grows a single, or rarely two, apical, erect, fleshy, gray-green leaves
Leaves
-History:Vocalist Arnar Gudjonsson was formerly the guitarist with Mower, and he was joined by Hallur Hallsson , Arnar Ólafsson , Bjarni Grímsson , and Andri Ásgrímsson . Late in 2001 they played with Emiliana Torrini and drew early praise from the New York Times...
.
The leaf gives rise to a terminal inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
with one to eight flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s. Sometimes this inflorescence is subtended by a spathaceous bract, sometimes erroneously called spathe (spathe is a typical form in some other families such as Araceae
Araceae
Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...
and Arecaceae
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
). The flowers have similarly shaped sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s, and can be yellow, pink, lavender, magenta, orange and red.
The trilobed lip
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
has lateral lobes that partially encircle the column
Column (botany)
The column, or technically the gynostemium, is a reproductive structure that can be found in several plant families: Aristolochiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Stylidiaceae....
. The smaller midlobe has a yellow disc and the spur is adnate to the ovary
Ovary (plants)
In the flowering plants, an ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower or gynoecium. Specifically, it is the part of the pistil which holds the ovule and is located above or below or at the point of connection with the base of the petals and sepals...
. The lip often presents some lamellate calli.
Some species are yellow, and almost all species have some shades of orange due to natural variation within the species.
They are used extensively in hybridization to influence the small size and the dark red color of the progeny, such as in the hybrid x Sophrolaeliocattleya (xSlc.) Sophronitis species are quite small, a characteristic that may be conferred to progeny such that they are more compact.
This new classification was created by Van den Berg and M.W. Chase in 2000. In addition to the traditional small, red species, it included all Laelia species from Brazil, based on DNA evidence. The Mexican species still are Laelia.
Synonymy
Brasilaelia Campacci, Chironiella Braem, Dungsia Chiron & V.P.Castro, Hadrolaelia Chiron & V.P.Castro, Hoffmannseggella H.G.Jones, Lophoglottis Raf.Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz
Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
, Microlaelia Chiron & V.P.Castro, Sophronia Lindl.
John Lindley
John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
are synonyms of Sophronitis.
To "reduce confusion" Sophronitis has been reduced to Synonymy
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
under Cattleya
Cattleya
Cattleya is a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after Sir William Cattley who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids...
Species
Many of these species used to belong to the genus Laelia.- 1.Sophronitis acuensis Fowlie: Açu Sophronitis (Brazil - Rio de Janeiro).
- 2.Sophronitis alaorii (Brieger & Bicalho) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Alaor's Sophronitis (Brazil - Bahia).
- 3.Sophronitis alagoensis V.P.Castro & Chiron: (Brazil - Alagoas)
- 4.Sophronitis alvaroana (F.E.L.Miranda) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: (Brazil - Rio de Janeiro).
- 5.Sophronitis angereri (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Angerer's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 6.Sophronitis bahiensis (Schltr.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Bahian Sophronitis (Brazil - Bahia).
- 7.Sophronitis bicolor F.E.L.Miranda: Bicolored Sophronitis (Brazil - Rio de Janeiro).
- 8.Sophronitis blumenscheinii (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Blumenschein's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 9.Sophronitis bradei (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Brade's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 10.Sophronitis brevicaulis (H.G.Jones) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Short stemmed Sophronitis (Brazil).
- 11.Sophronitis brevipedunculata (Cogn.) Fowlie: Short-stalked Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 12.Sophronitis briegeri (Blumensch. ex Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Brieger's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 13.Sophronitis britoi (K.G.Lacerda & V.P.Castro) Campacci: Brito's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais)
- 14.Sophronitis caulescens (Lindl.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Caulescent Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 15.Sophronitis cernuaSophronitis cernuaCattleya cernua, commonly known as the Nodding Sophronitis, is a species of orchid occurring from Brazil to northeastern Argentina. It was the type species of the genus Sophronitis until the genus was made synonymous with Cattleya....
(Lindl.) Hook.: Nodding Sophronitis (Brazil to NE. Argentina). This is the type species- 15.1.Sophronitis cernua var. alagoensis (Brazil - Alagoas). Pseudobulb epiphyte
- 15.2.Sophronitis cernua var. cernua (Brazil to NE. Argentina). Pseudobulb epiphyte
- 16.Sophronitis cinnabarina (Bateman ex Lindl.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Cinnabar Sophronitis (Brazil - S. Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro).
- 17.Sophronitis coccineaSophronitis coccineaCattleya coccinea, commonly known as Sophronitis coccinea or Sophronitis grandiflora, is a species of orchid occurring from Brazil to Argentina ....
(Lindl.)Rchb.f.: Scarlet Sophronitis (Brazil to Argentina - Misiones). - 18.Sophronitis colnagoi (Chiron & V.P.Castro) Campacci: Colnago's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 19.Sophronitis conceicionensis (V.P.Castro & Campacci) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Sophronitis of Conceição do Mato Dentro (Brazil - Minas Gerais)
- 20.Sophronitis crispa (Lindl.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Crisped Sophronitis (SE. Brazil)
- 21.Sophronitis crispataSophronitis crispataCattleya crispata, commonly known as Laelia flava, is a species of orchid endemic to Minas Gerais, Brazil. For registration purposes, the Royal Horticultural Society call this species Cattleya crispata....
(Thunb.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Cliff-dwelling Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais). - 22.Sophronitis dayanaSophronitis dayanaCattleya bicalhoi, commonly known as Laelia dayana, is a species of orchid endemic to Brazil, from southern Minas Gerais to Rio de Janeiro....
(Rchb.f.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Day's Sophronitis (Brazil - S. Minas Gerais to Rio de Janeiro).
- 23.Sophronitis duveenii (Fowlie) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Duveen's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais: Serra do Cipó).
- 24.Sophronitis endsfeldzii (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Endsfeldz's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 25.Sophronitis esalqueana (Blumensch. ex Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: ESALQ's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 26.Sophronitis fidelensis (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: São Fidélis Sophronitis (Brazil - Rio de Janeiro).
- 27.Sophronitis flavasulina (F.E.L.Miranda & K.G.Lacerda) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Southern Yellow Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais)
- 28.Sophronitis fournieri (Cogn.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Fournier's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais)
- 29.Sophronitis ghillanyi (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Ghilany's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 30.Sophronitis gloedeniana (Hoehne) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Gloeden's Sophronitis (Brazil - São Paulo).
- 31.Sophronitis gracilis (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Graceful Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais: Serra do Cipó).
- 32.Sophronitis grandis (Lindl.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Grand Sophronitis (Brazil - SE. Bahia to N. Espírito Santo).
- 33.Sophronitis harpophylla (Rchb.f.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Sickle-leaf Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais to Espírito Santo).
- 34.Sophronitis hispidula (Pabst & A.F.Mello) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Finely Bristled Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 35.Sophronitis itambana (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Itambé Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 36.Sophronitis jongheanaSophronitis jongheanaCattleya jongheana, commonly known as the Jonghe's Sophronitis, is a species of orchid endemic to Brazil ....
(Rchb.f.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Jonghe's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais). - 37.Sophronitis kautskyana (V.P.Castro & Chiron) Baptista: Kaustsky's Sophronitis (Brazil - Espírito Santo).
- 38.Sophronitis kautskyi (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Kautsky's Sophronitis (SE. Brazil)
- 39.Sophronitis kettieana (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Kettie's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais)
- 40.Sophronitis liliputana (Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Dwarf Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais: Serra do Ouro Branco).
- 41.Sophronitis lobataSophronitis lobataCattleya lobata, commonly known as the Lobed Sophronitis, is a species of orchid endemic to Brazil ....
(Lindl) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Lobed Sophronitis (SE. Brazil. - 42.Sophronitis longipesSophronitis longipesCattleya longipes, commonly known as the Long-column Sophronitis, is a species of orchid endemic to southeastern Brazil ....
(Rchb.f.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase : Long-column Sophronitis (SE. Brazil - Serra do Cipó). - 43.Sophronitis lundii (Rchb.f. & Warm.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase : Lund's Sophronitis (Bolivia to Argentina - Misiones, Salta).
- 43.1.Sophronitis lundii f. alba (L.C.Menezes) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase
- 44.Sophronitis mantiqueirae Fowlie: Mantiqueira Sophronitis (SE. Brazil).
- 45.Sophronitis marcaliana (Campacci & Chiron) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Marçal's Sophronitis (Brazil - Bahia).
- 46.Sophronitis milleri (Blumensch. ex Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Miller's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 47.Sophronitis mixtaSophronitis mixtaCattleya hoehnei, commonly known as Laelia mixta, is a species of orchid endemic to Espírito Santo, Brazil. It has been renamed as Cattleya hoehnei Van den Berg ....
(Hoehne) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Mixed Sophronitis (Brazil - Espírito Santo). - 48.Sophronitis munchowiana (F.E.L.Miranda) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Munchow's Sophronitis (Brazil - Espírito Santo).
- 49.Sophronitis neomirandae Baptista: Miranda's other Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 50.Sophronitis pabstii (F.E.L.Miranda & K.G.Lacerda) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Pabst's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais)
- 51.Sophronitis pendula (R.C.Mota, P.L.Viana & K.G.Lacerda) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Hanging Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais)
- 52.Sophronitis perriniiSophronitis perriniiCattleya perrinii, commonly known as the Perrin's Sophronitis, is a species of orchid endemic to southeastern Brazil....
(Lindl.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Perrin's Sophronitis (SE. Brazil) - 53.Sophronitis pfisteri (Pabst & Senghas) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Pfister's Sophronitis (Brazil - Bahia).
- 54.Sophronitis praestans (Linden & Rchb.f.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Spectacular Sophronitis (SE. Brazil)
- 55.Sophronitis presidentensis (Campacci) Campacci: Presidente's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- 56.Sophronitis pumilaSophronitis pumilaCattleya pumila, commonly known as the Dwarf Sophronitis, is a species of orchid endemic to southeastern and southern Brazil....
(Hook.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Dwarf Sophronitis (SE. & S. Brazil) - 57.Sophronitis purpurata (Lindl. & Paxton) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Purple-stained Sophronitis (SE. & S. Brazil)
- 58.Sophronitis pygmaea (Pabst) Withner (Brazil - Espírito Santo).
- 59.Sophronitis reginaeSophronitis reginaeCattleya reginae, often known as Laelia reginae or Sophronitis reginae is a species of orchid endemic to the Serra da Caraça mountains in the state of Minas Gerais of Brazil....
(Pabst) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Regina's Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais). - 60.Sophronitis sanguilobaSophronitis sanguilobaCattleya sanguiloba , commonly known as the Laelia sanguiloba, is a species of orchid endemic to the Brazilian state Bahia....
(Withner) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Red-lobed Sophronitis (Brazil – Bahia) - 61.Sophronitis sincorana (Schltr) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Sincorá Sophronitis (Brazil - Bahia).
- 62.Sophronitis tenebrosa (Rolfe) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Dark Sophronitis (Brazil - SE. Bahia to Espírito Santo).
- 63.Sophronitis verboonenii (F.E.L.Miranda) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Verboonen's Sophronitis (Brazil - Rio de Janeiro).
- 64.Sophronitis virens (Lindl.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Green-flowered Sophronitis (SE. Brazil)
- 65.Sophronitis wittigiana Barb. Rodr.: Wittig's Sophronitis (Brazil - Espírito Santo).
- 65.1.Sophronitis wittigiana f. candida Roeth & O.Gruss (2005)
- 66.Sophronitis xanthina (Lindl.) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Yellow Sophronitis (Brazil - Bahia to Espírito Santo).
Natural hybrids
- Sophronitis × carassana (S. lucasiana × S. mantiqueira) (Brazil)
- Sophronitis × cipoensis (S. crispata × S. ghillanyi) (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- Sophronitis × espirito-santensis (S. pumila × S. xanthina) (SE. Brazil)
- Sophronitis x feldmanniana (F.E.L.Miranda & K.G.Lacerda) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase 2005
- Sophronitis × gerhard-santosii (S. harpophylla × S. kautskyana) (SE. Brazil).
- Sophronitis × lilacina (S. crispa × S. perrinii) (SE. Brazil).
- Sophronitis × mucugense (S. bahiensis × S. pfisteri) (Brazil - Bahia).
- Sophronitis x raganii (F.E.L.Miranda & K.G.Lacerda) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase 2005
- Sophronitis × wyattiana (S. crispa × S. lobata) (SE. Brazil)
- Sophronitis × zaslawskii (S. harpophylla × S. praestans) (SE. Brazil)
Doubtful Species
- Sophronitis pterocarpa Lindl. Wing Fruited Sophronitis (Brazil to Paraguay).
- The type of S.pterocarpa is from the city of Rio de Janeiro, where only S. cernua occurs. The belief that this species corresponds to the western portion of the range into Paraguay does not match herbarium information.
- Sophronitis tereticaulis (Hoehne) Van den Berg & M.W.Chase: Twisted-stem Sophronitis (Brazil - Minas Gerais).
- This taxon is a variation of S. mirandae which occurs only within some populations, with no biological grounds for species recognition.
External links
- van den Berg, C. and M.W. Chase. 2000. Nomenclatural notes on Laeliinae - I. Lindleyana 15(2): 115-119.